UK surname
Possibly a variant of the surname "Feary" meaning someone from an area overgrown with ferns.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Fearey surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Addington, Great, Edmonton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fearey is 110 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.7%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1911
110 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fearey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fearey surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 59 | #26,466 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 110 | #21,519 |
| 1997 | modern | 57 | #31,917 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 57 | #32,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 60 | #32,388 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 49 | #34,580 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 52 | #34,726 |
| 2011 | modern | 53 | #34,630 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Addington, Great, Edmonton, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addington, Great | Northamptonshire |
| 2 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fearey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fearey, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fearey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fearey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fearey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fearey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fearey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fearey is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "feor," meaning "far" or "distant," possibly referring to someone who lived far away or came from a distant place.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1199, where a person named Robertus Fere is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved from the Old English word "feor" over time.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various records from Lancashire, such as the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, where a certain William le Fere is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname was common during this period, indicating an occupation or place of origin.
An interesting historical reference to the Fearey surname can be found in the Plea Rolls of the Duchy of Lancaster from the 14th century. In these records, a person named John Feeray is mentioned, further showcasing the evolution of the spelling over time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Fearey surname was Robert Fearey, who was born around 1520 in Lancashire. He is mentioned in various parish records from the region during the 16th century.
Another notable figure with this surname was John Fearey, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his involvement in local politics and trade activities.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various records from the county of Yorkshire. One example is Richard Fearey, who was born in 1625 in the village of Knaresborough and served as a churchwarden in the local parish.
Moving into the 18th century, we find references to a family of Feareys living in the village of Bury, Lancashire. One member of this family, Thomas Fearey, was born in 1712 and worked as a weaver.
Another notable individual with the Fearey surname was William Fearey, a soldier who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1785 in Lancashire and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fearey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 21 Feareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 21 | 26.42x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.41x |
| Northamptonshire | 8 | 17.11x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.01x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 3.63x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.39x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 7 Feareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hackney London | 7 | 25.11x |
| Great Addington | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Sculcoates | 5 | 64.02x |
| Amber Hill | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Spittlegate | 4 | 363.64x |
| Swineshead | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Friern Barnet | 3 | 272.73x |
| Heckington | 2 | 666.67x |
| Hendon | 2 | 111.73x |
| Langriville | 2 | 3333.33x |
| New Sealford | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Newhaven | 2 | 294.12x |
| Northampton St Giles | 2 | 112.36x |
| Hackthorn | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Helpringham | 1 | 625.00x |
| Higham Ferrers | 1 | 400.00x |
| Howell | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Knighton | 1 | 322.58x |
| Leicester St Martin | 1 | 270.27x |
| West Ham | 1 | 4.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fearey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fearey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fearey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| At Home | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Ag La | 1 |
| Ag Labs Wife | 1 |
| Agric Labourer | 1 |
| Agric Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Boot Binder | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook Dom Serv | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant Indoor | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundryman | 1 |
| Market Gardener | 1 |
| Pullyman Carman | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Roadman (Lab) | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Servant Boy | 1 |
| Signal Man On Rail (Oth Rail) | 1 |
| Signalman (RLY) | 1 |
| Wheelwright At Works | 1 |
| Working On Farm | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Fearey surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Fearey a modern rank of #35,224.
Possibly a variant of the surname "Feary" meaning someone from an area overgrown with ferns.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fearey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.